Sometimes life can be very difficult. We can go through some very trying times, and then, just when we think we can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, another wave of difficulty knocks us over. That cycle can seem to endlessly keep going on. When this happens, some people just give up all hope. They may plunge into a depression from which they never emerge. Most of us know about Job and the trials and suffering he went through. A read through of his book in the Bible does reveal much negative thought, but did Job completely give up all hope? Let’s look.
Though no date is given for when the events in the Book of Job took place, it is generally believed that he lived sometime around the time of the patriarchs Abraham or Isaac. He was a wealthy rancher, with thousands of sheep, camels, oxen, and donkeys, along with seven sons and three daughters (Job 1:2-3). Then in a matter of a few days, Job lost everything, including all ten of his children (Job 1:13-19). Afterwards, he became sick with a terrible skin affliction (Job 2:7-8). And to make matters worse, along came three friends who sat and criticized Job, telling him that all this that happened to him was his own fault, and did nothing but kick him when he was down.
Job’s afflictions went on for a number of months, with no relief in sight. We read through chapter after chapter in his book, hearing Job cry out to God. He can’t understand why all this happened to him when he was trying to live a good and decent life before God. We read the things his rotten friends said to and about him. Even his wife told him to give up, curse God, and die (Job 2:9). It would have been understandable if Job had done just that. How many of us would be able to go through relentless, unending suffering, and still maintain our integrity?
So, did Job give up all hope? We must remember that when Job went through all of his suffering, he did not have the Bible to turn to, like we do in our trials. He could not turn to the Book of Psalms, or any of the Gospels with the words of Jesus, nor were there any hymnals with songs to bring him comfort and hope, like we have. Yet Job did not give up! Buried deep within his book, hidden amidst all of his tears before God, we find a glimmer of hope that Job expressed.
In his misery, Job cried out that he wished that his words were written down, so that all could see what he went through, and know the truth (vs. 23-24). Little did Job know that his account would be part of God’s eternal Word, including what he would next say, his testimony of the resurrection.
Though Job didn’t seem to hold much hope left for his life, he did faithfully believe that his Redeemer would vindicate him (vs. 25-27). He wanted that put on record for all to know. Job counted on the promise of the resurrection. He looked ahead, counting on the Lord’s promise to make all things better and beautiful in the life beyond. He knew that at that time, all pain, death, sorrow, tears, and adversity would be removed. Job endured what he had to go through by envisioning what he would later receive.
Job knew that he had a big God who was in control, and that one day all of his suffering would be over. Maybe the suffering would not end in this life, but he knew that this world was not all there was. Job knew there was a life beyond this, where all would be right. He knew there would be an actual, physical resurrection, not just some spiritual or ethereal one. In that next life, Job would then understand what he had gone through. He could trust that God was in control, and had a plan for his life.
What about the sufferings that we are going through in our own life? Can we, like Job, look beyond them, knowing that our Redeemer lives, and that one day we will be with Him? On that day, He will make all things right. We may not understand now why things happen the way they do, and why we are going through the trials we have. However, like Job, we can envision that in heaven our understanding will be clear. Even when things are a mess now, we can trust that the God of the universe is still in control.
No comments:
Post a Comment